OffsAIde
·20 August 2026
Ziquinho goes viral as Flamengo fan, once mimicked Gabigol, dreams of being club’s lucky charm

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Yahoo sportsOffsAIde
·20 August 2026

Caio, 12, nicknamed Ziquinho, went viral after TV Globo showed him celebrating Arrascaeta’s opener against Cruzeiro on Wednesday, his likeness to a young Zico racing across social media. According to Globo.com, the Flamengo fan has already been dubbed a lucky charm.
He appeared on screen straight after the first goal and chose to celebrate in front of a camera, prompting side-by-side comparisons with Zico. By Thursday morning, he says classmates and a teacher were talking about seeing him on television and Instagram.
Caio attended with his father, Diogo, 43, who heard fans pointing out the resemblance but did not expect the fuss. On the journey back to their home in Freguesia, Jacarepaguá, it dominated the conversation.
They joke they bring good fortune, saying they have been to almost every home game and do not recall a defeat at the Maracanã. Caio hopes to walk out with the players and dreams of seeing a Libertadores final after missing Lima and Guayaquil, perhaps in Montevideo.
It was not his first viral turn. Years ago he mimicked Gabigol with yellow-dyed hair, water-based beard paint and cut socks on his hands, which led to spots on Flamengo TV and countless photos with fans.
Flamengo are into the Libertadores quarter-finals and await Tolima or Independiente del Valle, who lead 1-0 after the first leg, with the ties due between 8 and 17 September. Caio says he wants Independiente del Valle next and his father agrees.
Source: Globo.com
“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”







































